[Chapter 19]
The Celebration
(Part II)
Everyone became curious as to the celebration I will make and I brought the one item that will let everyone in the room know. Hidden away, I pull out a special board and quickly put it down so everyone can see. They all look at the board with surprise expressions.
"H-Hey, isn't that…" Jennifer whisper.
"Yeah, a Ouija board." Jane finish.
I grin as I readjust my glasses at the excitement we will have from this activity and it will be a good bonding experience for the entire group.
"Correct, we will play the Ouija board for our big celebration and we will play it using my own special version." I explain.
"Your version?" Luke ask, curious.
I spread my arm to let my jacket dance in the wind and began to explain my game to everyone.
"Is simple! I will bring a cup and put it on the board-"
"Isn't that the same thing." Jane sigh.
"I was getting there." I sigh, but continue with my flow. "I will ask each one of you to write your worst fear in a piece of paper, provide by me of course." I explain.
I look at them very closely as the candle lightly illuminates the room and I could barely see past my extend arm. They look afraid to reveal such information and a bit worry about this game. Jane and Luke seem very compose about the idea while Jennifer look afraid as I expected. I pass them a piece of paper, and then put the cup in the middle of the board.
"Luck, did you try this game by yourself?" Ayakane ask, curious.
"Oh? I did, it was quite something I have to tell." I reply, surprise.
"W-What happen? Did a scary ghost appear.." Jennifer ask, afraid.
"Nothing happen…" I spoke, disappointed.
Jennifer felt relieve at my response and the anticlimactic results of my solo game, but I know now that this game requires a group in order to have a better chance of summoning ghosts or worst demons. Everyone began to write their fear in a single piece of paper and making sure no one was looking as they wrote it down when they finish everyone put their piece of paper in the cup. I nod at their strong will to write such dangerous thing inside of this cup and flip it upside down while I lay my right hand on top of it. I smile at the game or celebration coming, but Luke became confuse by something.
"Why didn't you put your paper in?" Luke ask.
"I did it was the first one inside of the cup since I had the free time to write it for myself." I smile.
Luke smile at my reassurance and nodded at my choice of being the first one to write my fear. Everyone gather around the table and gently put our hands on top of each other.
"What do we do now?" Ayakane ask.
"I think we will ask some questions to the entity in the room." Jane suggest.
"O-Oh, really? W-What do we ask the ghost about?" Jennifer wonder.
I look at the board as I began to think on my question and chose the luckiest person in the room. I grin as the person came to mind so quickly and I adjust my glasses to see Jane.
"Tell me, what's Jane's worst fear?" I ask, grinning.
Jane jump at my question but she quickly regain her composure as she began to laugh at the question.
"Silly Luck you don't know my fear let alone a simple board game." Jane chuckles.
A smile appear in my face as I felt pity for her since this "simple" board game isn't so predictable like she initially thinks. I could see Jane's confident face, and suddenly the cup began to slowly move around the board. Everyone gasp at the sight of the cup moving, but worst of all Jane became frozen at the cup moving and glare at me.
"Y-You are doing that on purpose! Stop joking around and play the game right." Jane angrily said.
"I'm not moving the cup I swear. I did want to move the cup to frighten you but even I'm quite surprise at this development" I spoke, stun.
Jane's face became a bit pale thinking a ghost is moving the cup and she turn to everyone hoping that one of them confesses that they are the one moving the cup.
"It isn't me Jane, I wouldn't lie about this." Ayakane spoke.
"Y-Yeah, I am too scare to even move the cup.." Jennifer nervously laugh.
"I prefer to stay truthful even in situations like this since we need trust among each other." Luke said.
Jane felt uncomfortable at the cup moving without our control and I paid attention to the cup this entire time while everyone spoke their mind. My eyes widen as a word came out from the board and everyone notice my gasp as the cup stop at the last letter. I glance at Jane looking a bit afraid and fragile as she look at me with her puppy eyes that I couldn't resist.
"Do you want me to tell them, Jane?" I ask, seriously.
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Jane ask, ignoring the truth.
I sigh at her cold personality that pushes away people from her and yet, she's afraid of being all alone despite her fake personality trying to do the opposite. I couldn't let her fake shield be a bother to herself and the rest of them team, especially Jennifer who is afraid of her. I look at her with a serious expression and made her look away from my strong gaze while everyone became confuse.
"You are afraid of being alone, aren't you?" I ask.
I could see Jane frighten face slowly appear around her face as her true feelings are slowly opening up to everyone and she quickly took away her hand from the cup which is a bad thing to do.
"No! You're wrong I am not afraid to be alone. I can show you..I" Jane shouts angrily and terrify.
Suddenly, the whole room began to shake violently causing everyone to release the cup from our grasp, except for me. Everyone disappear from thin air and made me panic at their sudden disappearance. My clothing from the Hotspot appear suddenly and I become confuse by this. I gasp as the entire building became worn out and abandon just like the school at the Hotspot.
Impossible, how?
I turn to Jane to see her on the floor unconscious from overwhelming panic. I felt sad about her situation as I don't understand her quite yet and guilty for pushing her too hard. I let go of the cup to rescue Jane but a presence got my attention which made me stop at my tracks. I turn around to see Jane's shadow looking at me with a cocky smirk on her face and I knew I had to fight her.
"You must be Jane's Shadow, correct?" I ask, seriously.
"Correct, I will reward you with a short death. It will be painful though." S. Jane reply, grinning.
She brought her long sword from her back and taking her battle stance to fight against me.
"Is fighting the only answer here? Couldn't we talk it out and fix your problem." I ask.
"Talking? Talking is for the weak which clearly isn't me." S. Jane chuckles. "I will enjoy cutting you into pieces and seeing your face in agony." Jane spoke, excitedly.
I remain silent at Jane's Shadow proclamation, and surprise that this person was inside of her all of this time. I felt worry for such monster living inside of her and the reason she became like this, I sigh as I decided to take her burden for myself. I materialize my weapon and slam gently down as I use the hilt to support my weight.
"You are in pain, aren't you? Afraid of being alone, afraid of not being needed like you once told me. You are a lonely girl who needs to be love and needed but don't worry, we will accept your true self." I explain, calmly.
The Shadow pause at my explanation as she slowly began to have a face of contemplation before shaking her head and continue walking. She charge at me with her sword winding up from her side and slashes towards me which made me block her dangerous swing. My hands felt the force of her strong swing and pushed my entire body into the air and I hit the ceiling. I grunt from the pain coming from my back as I came down I position myself to handle the fall better. When I land I quickly took my stance to see her ready for her next swing.
Good thing I have Tam Lin or else this pain would have been worse for me.
"Stop thinking and fight!"
Jane interrupts my thoughts with her vertical slash that slam the floor as I dodge the incoming threat and she began to laugh hysterically.
"Don't you find this battle fun! A fake leader and his teammate fighting to get the role of true leader. I always thought I should of taken the role instead of you." S. Jane spoke.
I took a step forward and thrust my blade toward her which manage to cut her cheek slightly as she try to dodge at close range. She became angry at her fail attempt to dodge my slash and glares at me.
"Don't take me so lightly, you should know by now about my strength to fight for what's right and how I am willing to stop you from hurting yourself." I reply.
Jane's Shadow chuckle at my response and quickly rotates her body while extending her blade to turn herself into a spinning top. I gasp as I didn't know such move could be possible and I try to block her attack but I only block the first rotation. She easily pushes my thin blade away forcing me to take the rest of the damage. The damage wasn't so bad but the pain slowly escalates to become a threat enough to summon my Persona.
"Come Persona!" I command.
Tam Lin rotates his spear to cleave away Jane's spinning and taking away some of he pressure of me. I took some deep breaths to recover from the damage and I hear Jane's crazy laughter. She began to feel the thrill from the battle and she quickly jump towards me with her blade following behind her.
"Let's go!" Jane screams excitedly.
I grunt as I raise my illuminating weapon in the air. "Tam Lin, let me your strength!" I scream.
Tam Lin reappear above me to slam his spear down to bring down a small lighting orb to damage and try to stop Jane's rampage. A small smoke appear from the attack until suddenly Jane burst out from the smoke, and I continue with my magical assault. Tam Lin became quite shock at Jane's persistent to fight off the damage and I am also feeling the same way as him. I greet my teeth as I see her getting close to me and with her sword ready to slash me. I block her attack to ease the pain and she slash me away from my spot once more.
So…strong..
I felt my entire body slamming hard into the wall behind me and I manage to remain standing up shaken from the pain. I glance up to see Jane scrapping the floor with her sword, as the spark jump from the blade's trails.
"People are all the same." S. Jane spoke.
I narrow my eyes as I sense Jane's Shadow becoming a bit calmer and slightly worry.
"You trick us into thinking your nice and then you stab me in the back! Why should I trust someone who will betray me?! You're all like Jackson!" S. Jane finish.
Jane's Shadow stops at her track and looks at me with some kind of answer to her question. I became curious as to this person she is talking about, but I have something else to worry about. I began to think about her questions and something came to mind as I realize that I am handling Jane, and not Ayakane. I grin as I adjust my glasses realizing that I shouldn't treat those two the same.
"I understand now, you are afraid of being betray?" I ask, as I shook my head at the idea.
I chuckle as I immediately pull the crystal from my weapon and shatter it as fast as humanly possible. My shadow enter my mind and my personality change to his command as he took control of our body. I look at Jane's Shadow with a cold-stare and she seem very, very thrill to see me taking this battle seriously. She jump in joy about this and laughs at my power changing into this form.
"Finally! Oh God, finally." Jane excitedly said, as she took her battle stance.
I see her taking her stance and waiting for my first move, I walk towards her while I slash my blade away. Jane became confuse by the obvious attack, but I quickly blitz toward her side and slash her vertically to her surprise. She became frozen at my speed and I look at her with a serious look.
"I'll…return the favor." I spoke, coldly.
[Luke POV]
I slowly regain my consciousness as I stare at the pitch black of this strange place. I grab my head from the pain and I gasp from the realization of the game. I quickly jump to figure out my sudden change of environment and I couldn't see anything or anyone.
"Luck! Jane! Ayakane! Jennifer!" I call out.
Silent, I became rather nervous at the sight of unavoidable darkness surrounding me and not a single breathing person visible to me. I began to panic as my eyes turn from one direction to the next and I felt my fear coming through.
"Calm down…" I took a deep breath. "Calm do-"
The room began to shake wildly and I began to hear laughter all around which made me panic. I ran toward the abyss with no hope of finding the exit and I began to breath heavily from my running. Suddenly, I stop my running to see another me standing there and watching me. I could hear claps coming from him and looking a bit smug, he like has total control or even power.
"Look at you, how the strong has fallen. It is rather embarrassing to see myself running away from nothing." He spoke, disappointed.
"W-What!? Who are you? Where am i?" I ask, slightly scare.
The fake chuckle with power coming from his aura and remaining composure with his overconfident attitude.
"I will reveal that in due time, just you wait until I take that body of your and finally show those peasants how a king will rule with an iron fist." He confidently explain, as he turn his right hand into a fist.
I notch a door opening behind him and I could see the light overtaking this entire room which made me fluster by it.
[Ayakane POV]
I open my eyes to find myself in a dark room and I could see someone with their back turn to me. I rub my eyes to get a better look of this persons and I became surprise to see Luck strangely acting weird. I notice a door opening up in front of him as the light illuminating the room and he turn to me with a sad expression.
"I don't like you, so stop following me around and just keep your feeling to your self." Luck spoke.
I felt my stomach becoming heavy and disturb by Luck's mean words. My mouth began to shake as I extend my right hand toward him to stop him but, he began to move toward the door and leaving me here in his dark room. He left the room with my heart and my feeling destroy with one sentence alone.
You shouldn't fall for such easy trick.
As I am about to cry, I hear my Shadow talk inside of my head and made me stop with my water work.
"What do you mean…he…told me what I was afraid.." I mutters, sadly.
Exactly, this is just an illusion play by someone. Don't you realize your clothing?
I look at my clothing to find myself wearing my clothing from Hotspot and I felt relief to hear this or that Luck is an illusion. I notice the same door opening up and I watch the harsh light as I cover it with my right hand.
Now, let's get back to Luck, right?
[Jennifer POV]
"Ugh…my head.." I mutter.
The headache became annoying to me as I open my eyes and to find myself in a strange place. I could feel wind passing through and very narrow road going straight to nowhere with this night sky hanging above me. I glance down to see bottomless which shook my very soul and made me hang in the road with my dear life.
"W-W-What! W-Why am I here of all places?" I spoke, scared.
My breathing became hard and fast as imagine the worst possible outcome from this which made me feel worse. As I look at the road, I could hear footsteps approaching me and I couldn't look away from the ground because of my fear of height.
"You look…pathetic."
I became speechless at my voice speaking so mean and directly at me since we are the only two people in here. It made me curious enough to look up to see me standing bravely and with a cold stare looking me down.
"W-Who are you?" I ask, shock.
"Nothing you need to…worry about. You should give up and…stop trying to fight the unavoidable." She reply, coldly.
I felt sad at my weakness and me rely on my friend to help me from any bind. I look behind her to see a door opening and causing the light to turn harsh for my eyes which made me blind.
[Luck POV]
I jump back as we clash our sword clash and we took our distance from our pressure. I look at Jane becoming more and more excited about this battle, a lot different from Ayakane's Shadow acted.
"Come on! Don't die right away, Let me enjoy this!" S. Jane spoke, happily.
Jane leap from that spot to take her shot at hitting me and expecting for me to take that force, but I dodge it by just moving to my right so casually. Jane grunt as her blade got stuck on the ground as she use her every ounce of strength to hit me and miss.
"You should stop, you only make this difficult on myself and your." I said, crossing my arm.
Jane glare at my unmoving expression as I take all situations seriously and this won't be any different. Jane smirk as she quickly raise her right arm to open her palm to summon a fire orb, but I quickly grab her wrist. Jane fluster from my action and began to move pull her arm away from me.
"Let me go! I don't want to rely on someone else and people touching me." S. Jane spoke.
I narrow my eyes angrily at this Shadow stubbornness to see our friend trying their best to help in their own unique way. I didn't hesitate to throw Jane into the air to began my attack by shooting with Eiha and to make her understand of our feeling. Jane's body drop into the floor and I approach her to see if she understand. She look unconscious by the look at it as I check her body, but she quickly grab my head and raise her head with a grin.
"I'll return the favor." S. Jane smirk.
I remain silent at Jane's respond and she is learning from me, like a master teaching his student. Jane quickly get up to push me toward her blade which she pick up on our way and slam me on the wall.
"You should know by now, that physical attack won't work on me so easily." I said.
"But it wouldn't hurt to try." S. Jane cocky respond.
I slap her right arm away and kick her away from me to get some distance. Jane bite her lips from my kick to her stomach and began to charge at me again. I sigh at her arrogance to keep fighting and her bloodlust to see me in pain. We clash, as our sword began to spark with each and every blow we made to attack or defend. Despite my thin blade, I had the power to match her huge sword as equal and making her enjoy this even more. We stop this barrage as our sword stop, side by side while we look at each other and struggling to keep it like this.
"Why do you fight? For your own selfish motive?" I ask.
S. Jane smirk. "Not really, I don't want to be weak and rely on others, since they will betray me somewhere down the road!" S. Jane calmly spoke, until the last word fill with anger.
I could see Jane's eyes fill with hatred and anger from being betray or perhaps, afraid of being betray by a good friend. I felt a bit of pity for her and I am only the person who can help her at the moment.
"We won't." I spoke, seriously.
Shadow Jane gasp at my respond and didn't expect my confidence respond to her harsh questions. A small smile appear in my face at her expression which only made her feel awkward about this situation and blushing as she look down to hide her embarrassment.
"You should believe in us, like we do to you Jane. Now, stand up and accept us in your heart." I explain.
I remove my blade from hers and she look at me with a sad expression as she understand this battle has come to an end. I raise my right hand to hear and she began to hesitate to take it.
"Working together isn't weak but rather, a difficult thing to do. Or maybe Ms. Jane can't accomplish something this difficult?" I taunt.
I look away from Jane as my right eye peek at her reaction and I see anger in her eyes but also, calm and wise. She shook my hand for a bit, until she grip it tightly and grin at me which made me face her.
"Aren't you afraid of me? Why if I betray you? I am strong and capable of taking anyone down." S. Jane ask, grinning.
"If I can't handle one girl, then I am no leader. I will do everything in my power and their to see you understand again." I explain, seriously.
I notice Jane glowing at my explanation and release me from our hand shake. She look a bit calmer and smile at me with purity this time.
"I see, you are a weird guy. Talking to Shadow like they can understand, majority will rather take us down…thank you.." S. Jane reply.
Jane's Shadow disappear from this room and return to her original body. The atmosphere from Hotspot quickly disappear as soon as the Shadow left the area and I lost my power, clothing, and personality because of it. I bite my lips while taking a seat nearby as I felt the pain from the battle and the fatigue for entering Hotspot so suddenly. Immediately, I hear doors opening above me and people running down the stairs behind the wall. I see Luke, Ayakane, and Jennifer in shock with my health and Jane unconscious. I raise my right hand to wave at them and with a painful expression.
"H-Hey, you just miss the fighting..hahaha.." I laugh, painfully.
"What happen Luck? Why did Hotspot suddenly appear and transport us to a weird room." Luke ask.
"Well, the reason to that is because of Jane's Shadow." I sigh.
Ayakane became worry for Jane's well-being since she understand the pain of seeing your true self and the trouble of controlling such dangerous power.
"Is Jane okay? I hope she hasn't done anything too dangerous for her and you." Ayakane ask, worry.
"Don't worry, I made sure she won't do something she would of regret later. Anyways, how was everyone? Any trouble at all coming from your end?" I reply, and ask wondering.
They look a bit shaken up about something and I tilt my head in curiosity as to their reaction.
"D-Don't worry about it senpai, it isn't something you need to worry about." Jennifer smile, nervously.
"I agree, we handle our problem to some degree." Luke spoke, but sigh at the end.
"Oh, I see.." I said, somewhat disappointed.
I could sense some trouble happen to them but I didn't want to bother with their affairs or cause trouble if I bring the subject up. Jane suddenly grunt as she woke up and stand up to face us. She look a bit trouble but she turn rather happy as she look at us and look very proud of something.
"Finally.." Jane whisper.
"Huh? What do you say Jane? Are you okay?" Luke asks.
"I have finally have my Shadow! I was desperate for this power for so long and now, I have it." Jane proudly explain.
"Congratulations Jane, I am happy to see you control your Shadow like me and Luck." Ayakane smile.
"Wow, I kind of want one…" Jennifer spoke, wondering.
Jane look very happy with her new profound power being unlock and turn to me with confident look on her face.
"Luck! I want to say this to you and everyone else. I hope you can rely on me now, I will use this power to become useful." Jane explain, seriously.
Everyone smile at Jane's seriousness and willing to sacrifice her need to get our attention which is cute in her own way. I raise myself as I became excite to see the big growth of one of my friend and more importantly, a heroine.
"Excellent! Your growth will make us achieve victory and make me, the protagonist, proud of your growth." I said, excited.
"Luck, you are drooling." Luke smile.
"Oh, sorry." I smile.
We spend the night talking to Jane and she manage to open her heart to us which will make us work as a team a bit better than before. We sleep the night at the club since midnight came unexpected and everyone sleep in their own room for today. Today is a special day as I am summon into the Velvet Room during my sleep and I open my eyes to see only Philemon sitting in the room. I blink to adjust the scenery and region my conscious back from that weird transgression.
"Welcome to the Velvet Room Luck, sorry for the rude meeting but it is require to further evolve your unique gift." Philemon said.
"My gift?" I ask, curious.
Philemon nod as he brought card into the table with the simple snap of a finger and I could see one card in particular surrounded by others. The number zero, the fool surrounded by other tarot card with some reveal to me and some not reveal to me.
"A very rare gift you have indeed, to make the negative side of human, Shadow and the positive side of human, Persona to coexist inside a single body. That is a miracle beyond any human is capable of doing which bring me to my attention and to enhance this gift of yours." Philemon calmly explain.
I began to think on what he meant by my ability and began to theorize on this gift. I gasp at the realization of this gift coming through from Ayakane's Shadow and Jane's Shadow interactions. I couldn't believe this gift wasn't common like I though it was and it make me take this ability very seriously, but also excite to be this unique.
"Really! As a protagonist, I approve of this gift and I hope I can impress you with the development." I smile.
"I am sure you will." Philemon chuckles. "Now, I will share my power with you and see how this gift will further avoid your death." Philemon spoke.
[Fool] Lv. 2 Rank Up!
I became a bit sad to hear about the future of mine but I discard the idea of me dying from something since I have other to rely on. Philemon raise his hand toward me and I see blue butterflies surrounding me as I felt light.
"Thank you." I smile.
"No need, and until next time." Philemon reply.
I slowly lost consciousness as I will return to the real world and continue with our adventure inside of Hotspot. Although, this time I will have some advantage in battle with my improve gift, our bond as a group, and Jane's Shadow. I felt confidence with our success on clearing the 1st floor and deal with that lock.
[Chapter 19 End]